> Professional Referral

Feel Good Suffolk

Swap to Stop

Helping you to swap to vape to stop smoking

Stopping smoking

Welcome

You are here because you have been referred to Swap to Stop, part of the Feel Good Suffolk Stop Smoking service.

You will have been issued with a 12 week starter vape kit that includes a refillable and rechargeable vape, pods and vape liquids (refills).

Your vape will be either:-

  • A Liberty Flights Aspire Minican Vape Starter Kit
  • Or a Totally Wicked Skope Air Vape Starter Kit

Aspire Minican Starter Kit

 

  • An Aspire Minican device (850 mAh)
  • A Minican Pod 0.8Ω (Coil Non-replaceable) 2.0ml
  • A USB-C cable
  • A lanyard
  • A user manual

Skope Air Starter Kit

 

  • A Skope Air battery
  • A Skope Air pod
  • 2 EN0.8ohm atomiser heads
  • A USB-C cable
  • A user manual

Once you have your kit you will receive a text message every 4 weeks for up to 12 weeks with support to keep you vaping instead of smoking.

You may have received your vape kit or it’s on its way to you.  If your vape kit doesn’t arrive, please contact feelgoodsuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk.

What is a vape

A vape is a battery powered device that heats e-liquid or juice containing nicotine and flavours commonly found in food. You inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.

An e-liquid is a solution that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine, and flavours. People who vape generally call it juice

 

Contacting your vape supplier
Tips on vaping
  • Vaping is not like smoking and you may need to experiment and learn how to use vapes effectively.
  • ‘Sip’ rather than deep inhalation.
  • Several short puffs may be needed initially to activate the vaporiser and improve nicotine delivery.
  • Rather than smoking a cigarette every hour or so for 10 minutes, people will often find themselves regularly taking a few puffs on their vape. 
  • People who vape might vape more than they smoked. This is expected, mainly due to a change in the amount of nicotine consumed, and the speed at which it is delivered to the brain. 
  • Drinking water can help avoid the dry mouth that can be experienced.
  • If you feel the need to vape to get relief from cravings, you may not be getting enough nicotine, contact feelgoodsuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk to discuss the strength of your liquid. 
  • If your withdrawal and cravings are not being fully helped by using a vape, it can be combined with another form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as a patch. Contact feelgoodsuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk to discuss NRT.
When you have finished the kit

After finishing the 12 week free vape kit and you want to continue to vape using the same device, visit the vape suppliers website for more information about available liquids and local stockists.

If you buy a different brand of vape, all vape devices, chargers and batteries must display a CE mark. This indicates that they’re following European health, safety and environmental protection standards.

If you would like further advice from the stop smoking service after the 12 weeks email feelgoodsuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk

If vaping has not helped you to stop smoking there are other ways you can quit including nicotine replacement products like gum and patches and or the Allen Carr Easyway to stop smoking support that helps people to stop smoking without the use of nicotine replacement or vapes. You can find out more on the Stop smoking – Feel Good Suffolk webpage.

Vape safety advice
  • E-liquids should be stored in a cool, dark place out of reach of children and pets, and empty bottles should be disposed of safely.
  • To reduce the risk of fire, like any electrical device, the correct charger for the device should always be used and vapes should not be left charging overnight.
  • Finally, avoid placing spare batteries in your pocket with loose change or keys as this may cause fire ignition.
Vaping less harmful than smoking
  • Using vapes (e-cigarettes) with nicotine are much less harmful than continuing to smoke. It’s a cleaner and safer way to get the nicotine ‘hit’ that you usually get from cigarettes.
  • The 4 key ingredients of e-liquid are: Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerine (VG), flavourings, and nicotine. In the UK, vapes are tightly regulated for safety and quality.
  • Experts who support the use of e-cigarettes or vaping to quit smoking includes the NHS, Cancer Research UK and the Royal College of GPs.
  • Using a vape is not completely without risk and we recommend that ONLY  people who are using vapes to quit smoking use a vape.  Nicotine is a highly addictive substance.
  • Having swapped from smoking to vaping, you’ll slowly find an increase in energy and physical health.
  • Vaping is cheaper than smoking. Vape is likely to cost you around £1.50 a day. Even cheaper cigarettes can cost you up to £8 per day.
  • Vapers exposure to carcinogens, cancer making substances and toxic substances that cause respiratory and heart disease are significantly lower than smokers.  (Evidence from Kings College London 2023).
Disposing of vapes
  • Vapes contain batteries which can cause fires if placed in any of your bins and should be disposed of responsibly. You should not place vapes containing batteries in ANY household bin.
  • If possible, remove the battery and recycle at most supermarket or at a recycling centre. Only do this if it is easily removed and be careful not to puncture the battery.
  • Find your nearest electrical and battery recycling point at Suffolk Recycling – Suffolk County Council
  • Vapes can be recycled in the small domestic appliance container at any Recycling Centre with or without removal of batteries. Ensure that they are free from any E-Liquid.
  • Retailers have a responsibility to take back the used vapes that they sell. Ask your retailer about their vape take-back scheme when purchasing a vape. 
  • Empty vape cases (without batteries) can be disposed of in your rubbish bin.
Advice to stop vaping

It is recommended that you vape for as along as is needed to stop you smoking tobacco.

But when you are ready to stop vaping there are a number of ways you can do it.

Gradual reduction

  • If you have stopped smoking for 12 weeks or longer you can reduce the strength of your vape liquid every two to four weeks, or as long as needed.

Try going down from 18mg to 12mg, 12mg to 6mg, 6mg to 3mg, 3mg to 0. It is important that you do not rush to quit vaping and risk starting smoking again.

Increase the time between vaping

  • Another way is to increase the time between vaping. So, for example going from vaping every 20 minutes to every 40 and so on.

Set rules

  • Set rules for yourself about where and when you vape. Such as only vape outside your home, don’t vape in your car or only vape on a lunch break at work. This may not lead to you vaping less, but it will weaken the link between vaping and specific situations and times.

Stopping in one go

  • If you want to stop vaping immediately you may want to use NRT products (like gum or patches) to help you. It is generally a good idea to combine a patch that helps keep nicotine levels up with a faster-acting product like gum.
  • If you decide to stop in one go, be aware of how you are feeling as you go through your day. Use techniques to help stop urges to vape. Do something like go for walk, do a job around the home, or a hobby and the urge to vape will fade.

 

Remember it is ok to go back to vape if you would otherwise reach for a cigarette.

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